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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Jan 31, 2023 9:23pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Hello all,
Was thinking it would be interesting to know what band member was doing what on stage in later years.
My impression was they were mostly clear during live performances from 87 on, don’t need any Jerry Persian info, to sad unless it’s new and intriguing but more fleshing out stories in later years of Bill doing a bump but stopping, rumors of Bob and Special K ( knowing he stopped acid in the late 60s, but heard about Phil doing acid before each show in 89 onward!?
Heard about shrooms every now and then when not on stage to blow out the pipes anyhow no need for 70s or early 80s info seems more a given thinking later years
Peace out
This post was modified by UncleBruce on 2023-02-01 05:23:01

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Poster: c-freedom Date: Jan 31, 2023 8:22pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Hello Bruce,
Well I was fresh out of rehab in 87
and on my best behavior
until a three or four tab meltdown
at the Cap Centre on Phil’s b-day.
After that I went cold turkey ie-Wharf Rat.
“Only a friend know our secrets
Only they can reveal it”

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Jan 31, 2023 9:26pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

I hear ya Freedom, good point, just curious on the connection, when younger was intrigued by the notion that these musical astronauts when actually playing live were “ sober” in a way which makes sense as I got older.
It seems tough to keep time and your sh*t together for several hours while trying to be professional and still open as conduits to another place. The idea that Phil in the early 90s was able to trip onstage and sound that consistently solid was amazing to me. Like the fatman said he’d rather be chasing butterflies..

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Poster: RBNW....new and improved! Date: Feb 1, 2023 12:51am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

“The butterflies have already started,” said Rod Scurry on April 18, 1981, in anticipation of his first major league start the following day in Houston. The season was almost two weeks old, and Scurry had yet to make an appearance on the mound. In fact, he hadn’t pitched more than four innings in a single outing in two years. He was only getting the break now because Pirates ace Jim Bibby was injured; still, Scurry was excited and was hoping not just to start but also to finish his own game. “I’ll be trying to go nine,” he said.

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Poster: c-freedom Date: Feb 1, 2023 4:47am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

How about our sound man hitting the reverb so hard that I would have flashbacks at strange times during a show like during the Stones cover during ‘Used to love her’.

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Poster: c-freedom Date: Feb 1, 2023 4:53am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

“Put me in coach
Look at me
I can be centerfield”

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Poster: Diamondhead Date: Feb 1, 2023 9:03am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Big bad John recently.
https://youtube.com/shorts/QPU3B-4MOvE?feature=share

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 1, 2023 8:05pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Well this did not go as planned..

https://youtu.be/BWmg818BmSQ

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Poster: user unknown Date: Feb 2, 2023 4:39pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Don't think I've ever seen that before. Surprising harmony, and they didn't butcher "The Anthem" nearly as bad as some others. In fact, I thought they did admirably well.

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 2, 2023 4:57pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Yes Right!?
It’s Vince, it’s earpieces, it’s a somewhat clean Garcia etc, heard a touch of Way to Go Home buried in dare.

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Poster: Jim F Date: Feb 1, 2023 7:56pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

A lot of people think that sort of discussion is dark and inappropriate, but I'm not really one of them. I think it's fine to think about it in retrospect, but it can get weird and inappropriate for me when people wonder and discuss what people are currently doing. I think enough time has passed since 87-95 to where it's fine to ponder. I'm always interested in any factor that contributed to a performance, from the location and weather to who still liked to burn one at setbreak. Big Steve's comments were a revelation for me, Phil was the last one I'd think would still be taking acid before shows in those years, yet it also makes perfect sense. And it also makes me wonder how many others occasionally followed suit, maybe for old time's sake, or perhaps to test some new equipment. I can see Mickey saying "it's the only way to see if it sounds right!"

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 1, 2023 10:51pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Yeah, exactly, I just meant for me personally it is less interesting and well travelled territory to hear about Garcia’s decades long struggle with heroin or whatever.
I thought it might be interesting to hear about the few times Bob was on something and if I could pick it up in the audio.

Or Like the Garcia hash brownie tale of the first night of the 90 European tour etc etc
This post was modified by UncleBruce on 2023-02-02 06:51:34

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Poster: c-freedom Date: Feb 3, 2023 8:21am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Hey Uncle Bruce,
The standard media rap was always we are professional musicians with lots of responsibility.
But obviously the band would have access to the keys to the kingdom of whatever they might want to partake of.
Jazz Musicians have always been known for their music having the kaleidoscope of mind altering influence.
Jerry got really into the work and writing of ethnobotanist Terrance McKenna.
around the time in question.
Many of those plant based 'sacraments' would probably pass under the radar
of things one could get busted for.
Sorry if i blow torched you before I wasn't sure of your intent.
Some Heads did 20 year bids for Psychedelic 'crimes'
many of whom were turned in by folks that looked like Heads
but were anything but--- when push came to shove,,
Chris

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 3, 2023 8:47am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Yowza, my only intention was curiosity, didn’t realize I had Nark vibe, like I’m a middle aged man in a tye dye, new jeans and shiny black loafers wondering the lot asking to buy drugs. Will look into McKenna, just the story of Phil that late dropping blew my mind and thought there may be others stories I didn’t know.

We pay the storyteller off in ……..

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Poster: c-freedom Date: Feb 3, 2023 10:15am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Hey Brother,
I think it was Atlanta in the Omni lot when the hippies started the whole you have been un-arrested thing.
And this hippie comes flying by us handcuffed with two
Fake hippies following in hot pursuit.
No Birkenstocks on those dudes.
Yeah, we probably could have used our own sign/ counter sign
Challenge Question- China?
Acceptable Answers
A-rider
B-cat
C-doll
D-town shuffle
I guess the problem was many of the locals not always clued in to the deadhead culture, where always seeking to purchase from tour heads.
Yes, Check out McKenna he was another guy who died young,
Garcia was always referencing him!
We get our shrewms
From cow pastures here in Florida
And i am pretty sure
that is where the term
Shit faced
Got started.


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Poster: stratocaster Date: Feb 3, 2023 7:57am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

if you want to call alcohol a drug for this thread, then Phil was a heavy drinker which ultimately contributed to the need for liver transplant.

marijuana in it s various forms probably around throughout

Garcia was moslty clear from 87-90 likely back on and off heavy drugs (heroin and coke) from 91-95

Weir not too sure but he doesn't appear to show any signs of heavy destructive drug use outside being dusty as hell and still hallucinating

drummers, not sure about Hart, Billy is pretty open about coke use if i recall correctly

Mydland was as straight as they come, Sober as a church mouse. Too bad he died from that peanut allergy.

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 3, 2023 8:58am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Garcia still seems so sharp in 91 but sounds about right.

Bobby Dusty as Hell…… Ha

I always thought Brent’s allergies were to a convincing “piano” sound on his keyboard and emotionally functional relationships., but good to have the peanut thing to round out his narrative.

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 5, 2023 8:25pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Love the phrase Dusty as Hell.

Spent, due to too much acid use so the head is not as sharp but hollow with the a little rattle to keep it together but mostly empty space with a tinge of former residue creating a dust the fills the empty space?

In a good way.

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Poster: srtg83 Date: Feb 9, 2023 11:30am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

One of the recent books I read on the band, and my apologies I forget which book, claimed that the band finally banned the use of blow on stage in 1993.

I realize this was simply a rumour and it predates 1987, but the rumour was that the band, excluding Weir, was on acid in Saratoga ‘83.

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 9, 2023 12:28pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Now this is the kinda info I’m talking bout, very interesting wish you could remember the book.
Taking until 93 to ban blow?
Might give that Saratoga show a listen…

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Poster: srtg83 Date: Feb 9, 2023 12:43pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

I think it was David Browne: So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead.

Do listen to Saratoga. One of the most erratic shows, incredible highs, Scarlet And the Dew but the first set is a major slopfest. No sbd exists, unfortunately.

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Poster: UncleBruce Date: Feb 9, 2023 1:27pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Do you like the show so much it’s your handle srtg83?

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Poster: srtg83 Date: Feb 9, 2023 3:07pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Individual members drug use on stage 87 on.

Correct. My first show. I haven’t posted here in years. Nice to see some of the old guard still around. I hope all of you are well.
This post was modified by srtg83 on 2023-02-09 23:07:08